Albertan creates place in paradise

Tropical getaway in Costa Rica has 'breathtaking' view

A tiered swimming pool overlooking Arenal Lake is a feature of the Arenal Maleku development.

Photograph by: Handout photo
, Arenal Maleku

John Blimke looks over the balcony of his condo in Costa Rica and admits he still can't believe the view.

"It's breathtaking," says Blimke in a phone interview from Arenal Maleku, a gated condo community in Costa Rica. He and his wife, Patti, bought a one-bedroom-plus-den unit in the first phase of the development last year.

That phase of the resort includes 24 condo units in two buildings.

Zen Moisey is the developer and principal owner of the 15-hectare property.

The Edmonton native has been making trips to Costa Rica for 37 years.

Fond memories of his time in the country inspired Moisey to set up a property that would serve as an attractive getaway for others, sparking his purchase of the land in 2006.

To date, he has sold four condos, two of which were picked up by Canadians.

Blimke bought his condo after having known Moisey for several years, as both are members of the same Rotary Club.

"They're built to quality," says Moisey. "We brought Canadian craftsmen down to train our people here."

The property will eventually include five phases totalling 250 condos.

"The condominiums are not cookie-cutter," says Moisey.

"There's a whole range for what people like."

The units range from 840 to 3,600 square feet. A typical onebedroomplus-den unit starts at $204,000.

They feature double french doors on the bedrooms, hardwood, sliding glass floor-to-ceiling windows, five appliances and a fireplace.

The units also include a private entrance and parking stall.

The condos' balconies overlook 48-kilometre Lake Arenal - the second largest lake in Central America.

The lake is bordered with a large Canadian, American and European population, says Moisey, adding that Costa Rica's large number of Canadian residents has influenced the country's development.

In addition to the lake, part of the view from the development is the Arenal volcano, which Moisey says is known as one of the most popular tourist destinations in Central America.

"People are drawn to that," says Moisey.

They are also drawn to the various recreational opportunities in the area, he says. These include tours of butterfly farms, as well as fishing, sailing, rafting and zip-lining.

At the property, residents have access to a three-tiered cascading swimming pool, a recreation centre, games room, sauna and gymnasium.

There are also pathways on the property for walkers or joggers.

Arenal Maleku also has a commercial lot with a pre-Columbian Indian village featuring craft stands and cultural ceremonies.

But it's the area's natural qualities that make the resort such an inviting getaway, says Moisey.

"It's all about the climate here - that's the bottom line," he says. Year-round averages for the area range between 20 C and 35 C, but "it's not uncomfortable where you have your air conditioner running night and day," he says.

Blimke compares the landscape to the Okanagan Valley, but notes a few distinct differences.

"Add forest and monkeys and orchids and the most unbelievable plant life that you can imagine," he says.

The call of area wildlife adds to the atmosphere at Arenal Maleku, says Blimke - especially the howler monkeys.

"They're our rooster in the morning," he says, laughing, adding the monkeys don't enter the property.

Another quality that makes the property an ideal getaway is the pace of life, says Moisey. "It's like a fountain of youth."

About 12 kilometres south of the development is the town of Tilaran, which offers a number of amenities - such as modern grocery stores, shopping and a medical clinic.

An airport is located 20 kilometres west of the property in the town of Canas.

In terms of buyer demographics, Moisey says it's a mix, but adds that the majority have been people who are still working and a few years away from retirement.

Construction on the second phase of the development is expected to start once 60 per cent of the condos are sold in the first phase.

THE BUYERS

John and Patti Blimke.

AGES: John is 57 and Patti is 50.

BACKGROUND: John is the CEO for an Alberta vehicle rental company. Patti is retired and enjoys spending time volunteering as an aquacise instructor at the YWCA. The couple bought a onebedroomplus-den unit at Arenal Maleku in Costa Rica in January. The couple plans to turn the den into an additional bedroom as a place to stay for friends and family who visit their condo. Pace of life and factors such as the area's exotic vegetation and wildlife are among the reasons the Blimkes selected the development as their retreat.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

PROJECT: Arenal Maleku is a gated condo community.

DEVELOPER: Tree Four Five S.A.

LOCATION: Costa Rica.

PRICE: Units start at $204,000.

INFORMATION: www.cantico.ca

IN SHORT

Zen Moisey is not only the principal owner of Arenal Maleku, but also heads the development team that crafted the condominium community.

Tree Four Five is comprised of an international team of professionals, including engineers and architects. The group focused on preserving and adding to the area's natural features, such as fauna and tropical flora. With the environment in mind, the developers included a modern wastewater treatment system.

Arenal Maleku is also the first condo development in Costa Rica to reduce light pollution by 90 per cent, says the company's website.

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